Sunless Sea

[bnewman]

Many, many video games feature an underground ocean: Aquaria, Song of the Deep, and of course Sunless Sea — but while this song is entitled "Sunless Sea", and is intended as an homage to all of gaming's underground oceans, it's not based on that game at all, but on NES classic Blaster Master, which features such an environment as one of its many levels. All of the music from Blaster Master is great, and I've always especially loved the music from the ocean level, and have long planned to put lyrics to it.

lyrics by Benjamin Newman

ttto: the Area 5 theme from Blaster Master by Naoki Kodaka

listen to this song
 

/ A - G - / / F - C - /[1. D - E - :/[2. B - E - / 1st / /

 

Down in the underground where the light is very dim

There’s a sunless sea where sightless fishes swim

In those icy waters they thrive

Join them for a dive!

 

Here everything is clear, and the water’s very still

There’s a hint of fear, but you came prepared to

Kill the monster, grab the treasure

Get out alive!

 

At least that was the plan

In and out and end up right

Back where you began

Counting coins in sunlight

 

And yet, you could meet your death, swimming through this endless maze

Counting every breath through the endless, lightless days

You knew what this mission might cost

You’re completely lost!

 

Now you must find your way, or be stuck down here for life

Never see the day, never see your loving

Wife and daughter, sunlit water

Waves tempest-tossed

 

But what is that up there?

The answer to your troubles?

Is it a puff of air?

Is someone blowing bubbles?

 

What's this?  A gigantic crab blocks the passage with its claw

Parries every stab, blows more bubbles from its maw

Bubbles that explode when they burst

This creature must be cursed!

 

So, this must be the beast of which many songs have sung

Will you be its feast or escape its lair

Unstung but shaken?  Chances taken

You'll be the first!

 

And when your children hear

Your cautionary story

The terror and the fear

The wonder and the glory

 

Say: Down in the underground, crabby creatures crawl and creep

In a sunless sea, dark and cold and vast and deep

It's not a sea where humans should sail...

Let me tell the tale...